repulsive

[ ri-puhl-siv ]

adjective

1. causing repugnance or aversion:

   a repulsive mask.

   Synonyms: distasteful, offensive, disgusting, loathsome

2. capable of causing repulsion; serving to repulse:

   to present enough repulsive force to keep the enemy from daring to attack.

3. tending to drive away or keep at a distance; cold; forbidding:

   arrogant, repulsive airs to frighten the timid.

4. Physics. of the nature of or characterized by physical repulsion.

repulsive

/ rɪˈpʌlsɪv /

adjective

1. causing or occasioning repugnance; loathsome; disgusting or distasteful

   a repulsive sight

2. tending to repel, esp by coldness and discourtesy
3. physics concerned with, producing, or being a repulsion

Derived Forms

• reˈpulsiveness, noun
• reˈpulsively, adverb

Other Words From

• re·pulsive·ly adverb
• re·pulsive·ness noun
• self-re·pulsive adjective
• unre·pulsive adjective
• unre·pulsive·ly adverb
• unre·pulsive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of repulsive¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; repulse + -ive

Example Sentences

Others have tried bracelets that emit smells that sharks, theoretically, would find repulsive.

From Los Angeles Times

He staged the most chaotic and repulsive stretch-run that anyone has ever witnessed.

From Slate

“It is so repulsive. It is so disastrous. It is the embodiment of the downfall of the American family. I think it’s so gross. I think it’s just so nauseating,” Kirk said, set off by a new ad, produced by a liberal Christian organization, that features Julia Roberts reminding women that how one votes need not be shared with any emotionally-stunted man who would throw a fit.

From Salon

Concluding her statement, Janice Small Combs argued that one lie did not make him guilty of all the other "repulsive allegations and the grave charges leveled against him".

From BBC

The family's statement also said: "The character assassination of Erik and Lyle, who are our nephews and cousins, under the guise of a 'story telling narrative', is repulsive."

From BBC

Related Words

• abhorrent
• creepy
• distasteful
• hateful
• hideous
• nasty
• objectionable
• odious
• off-putting
• revolting
• ugly
• unpleasant
• vile